We'd like to think of distraction as the enemy of focus. It is not. It is a symptom of why we find it difficult to focus, which is the fact that our mind is overstimulated.

语音讲解：

今日发音练习重点：

1. the(j) enemy(j) of focus 注意词间元元连读和同化现象；

2. focus 词内不含/r/音；

3. symptom of连读。

言之有物：

1. 词链儿：think of...as...把...当作

I always think of you as one of the family.

我一直把你当成自家人。

I'd like to think of myself as a freelancer.

我喜欢把自己当成一个自由职业者。

★原声例句：So you are not to think of yourself simply as an individual.

所以你不能简单地把自己看作一个个体。

★原声例句：We don't think of ourselves as that vehicle to success.

我们不认为自己是成功的载体。

It's what she's been institutionalized to think of as normal.

而是她受到长期管制后认为这是正常的。

图源《犯罪心理》

My work I think of as a kind of prayer.

在我看来，我的工作就是一种祷告。

图源《圣殿春秋》

2. 词链儿：a symptom of... XX的症状

Fever is a symptom of many illnesses.

发热是很多疾病的一种症状。

Your problem with sleep is just a symptom of a larger problem.

你的睡眠问题是更大病症的一个症状。

3. overstimulated adj. 过度刺激的

over（过度）+stimulated（刺激的）

stimulate verb. 促进；激发

Parents should give children books that stimulate them.

父母应给孩子能启发他们的书。

It is a complex yet stimulating book...

这是一本情节复杂但能振奋人心的书。

Is teaching not stimulating enough for you anymore, Sherlock?

平时教书还不够刺激吗，大侦探？

图源《源代码》

Although I'm sure you had a stimulating meeting.

虽然我知道你今晚的聚会非常刺激。

图源《大西洋帝国》

*over-为前缀的单词，表“过度XX”

over-react verb. 反应过激

overdo verb. 过火

overdue adj. 过期的

overflow verb. 溢出

Many high prey drive dogs become overstimulated when they know a toy is the reward.

如果拥有很高猎取动力的狗知道了奖励是玩具，它将会变得过度兴奋。

活学活用：

请用 think of A as B 随意造句

《TED: How to Get Your Brain to Focus 如何让你的大脑集中注意力》： 研究表明，我们注意力的状态决定了我们的生活状态。那么，我们如何利用我们的注意力来更深入地关注，更少地分心，甚至变得更有创造力呢? 克里斯·贝利，《超专注》一书的作者，谈到了专注的能力是如何成为生产力、创造力和过有意义生活的关键。

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